First Signs launched the Minnesota pilot program in 2003-2004 in collaboration
with the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), the University of Minnesota,
the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM), and the Minnesota Department of Health.
The following provides information about the program and the follow-up evaluation
study. We provide links to articles in the press and to numerous Web-related
disability resources for Minnesota.

Increase knowledge of early warning signs among pediatric practitioners
in Minnesota
to raise their level of awareness

Improve frequency and quality of screening young children

Facilitate timely referral of children in Minnesota to local Early Intervention
programs

Lower the age at which children are identified with autism and other developmental
disorders in Minnesota

The Minnesota First Signs program consisted of:

Press campaign

Mailings to more than 4,000 physicians, clinicians, and early childhood
educators inviting them to participate in a live training seminar, receive
continuing education
credits, and a free First Signs Screening Kit

Evaluation Results
The Minnesota First Signs program has trained over
500 medical practitioners in live presentations and an additional 134 practitioners
through
our Webcast.
58% turned in completed pre- and post-tests, with 76% agreeing to participate
in a two-year follow up efficacy study. Over 60% improved upon their test scores
from pre to post tests.

First Signs provided outreach training to 130 professionals including Early Childhood
Intervention staff and Autism Resource Specialists from all regions of the state
who expanded the training for local outreach efforts. They, in turn, have trained
an additional 685 physicians and medical practitioners. Further training has
been provided for more than 3,238 early childhood professionals and community
providers across the state.

Physicians with the MN Chapter of the AAP: Committee for Children with Disabilities
have begun incorporating First Signs information into physician training programs
at the University of Minnesota.

Screening kits have been distributed to over 900 practitioners and clinics statewide.
Over 2% of First Signs’ monthly Web traffic can be tracked to Minnesota.
Initial Minnesota Child Count data from December 1, 2003 indicates a significant
increase in identification of children with autism in the age groups under age
6 and more importantly for those under age 3. While they are still small numbers
and open to interpretation, the most notable difference is a 75% increase in
the number of young children identified in the 0-2 age group from 2002 until
2003. The overall increase in identification of ASD for all children 0-21 in
the same period was 23%. The rate of increase for the 0-2 group from 2001-2002
was 40%. The overall increase in identification of ASD for all children 0-21
in 2001-2002 was 27%.

These are only a few small measures of the possible effectiveness of the Minnesota
First Signs initiative.